June 22, 1857.] HEWETT ON THE JOLLOFFS OF WEST AFIUCA. 515 



ment, lend to the place the appearance of an extensive rickyard, until the tra- 

 veller, arriving at a square, beholds the tenements unmasked. 



The houses are built of clay burnt hard by the sun, and are very neat in 

 aspect, and consist of a circular w^all, built of mud, two to four feet higli, 

 pierced with ornamented loop-holes as windows, and a doorless entrance, the 

 lintel of which is sometimes modelled into pillars, which last, like all primitive 

 ornamental architecture, is imitative of the prevailing vegetable feature of the 

 country, in this instance the palm. "Within this inclosure is another and a higher 

 circular wall, like a tower, having a lofty doorway, and the rafters for the roof 

 are laid resting on this wall and on the lower one ; these are thatched over, and 

 then the hut is finished off as before described. The doorway of the inner chamber 

 opens in the opposite direction to the low entrance, and this apartment, not- 

 withstanding its utter want of ventilation, is that of the master and his favour- 

 ite sultana, while the exterior gallery is the dormitory of the slaves, domestics, 

 and children, and is also the kitchen, where in the evenings the fires are 

 kindled against the inner wall, which is thus burnt like brick. Each house 

 possesses a rectangular inclosed yard, in which is a shed having a mat on the 

 ground, where the master performs his devotions and religious ablutions, and 

 the sides of these inclosures form the previously-mentioned linings to the 

 streets. I may here remark that each one of these huts is a small castle in 

 itself, and is so admirably adapted for defence, that one man might evade his 

 pursuer or defend it some time against numerous assailants. 



The squares generally contain, besides other dwellings, the mosque; the 

 school, over which a Marabou presides, expounding the Koran, teaching the 

 youth, and preparing some of them for the priesthood ; and the residence of 

 the Marabou, where may be seen the JoUoff books, which consist of wooden 

 tablets whitened and superscribed with Arabic characters. 



The principal square is distinguished by a lofty tree in the centre, and is 

 called the "penang" or market-place, and here the caravanserai is situated, 

 the horses and camels belonging to halted caravans picketed, palavers held, 

 and, beneath the spreading branches of the tree, the women meet to dance, the 

 men to hold festival, and the children assemble to celebrate certain Olympic 

 games. 



The granaries, wherein they deposit their ground-nuts, «&:c. are cane edifices 

 erected on posts of palm-trunks, and the doors are merely bolted ; while to the 

 bolt is affixed a gree-gree or charm, which, the people being afraid to touch lest 

 some mischief should befal them, serves as a lock. 



The JoUoff cattle are very similar to the small short- horned Highland breed ; 

 but the sheep are the most remarkable animals, being long-legged, as tall as a 

 small calf, marked piebald, yellow, brown, or black, and long-tailed. At first 

 I mistook them for calves, and, as I said before, I do not recollect ever having 

 seen them gathered in flocks. The horses are small, symmetrical, spirited, and 

 tireless ; but, being ridden with cruelly sharp bits, are not pleasant to the hand 

 of an Englishman, and certainly are most incommodiously accoutred. 



The JoUoffs are very superstitious, and are covered with amulets consisting 

 of beads ; pieces of cut, embossed, stamped, and enamelled leather, in number 

 and beauty proportionate to the wearer's wealth ; and snake-like necklaces of 

 polished leather, in quantity and weight sufficient to bend the neck. The 

 beads are either fancy beads or the Mahomedan rosary, and the others, amulets 

 both decorative and useful, are called gree-grees. They consist of illuminated 

 extracts from the Koran, enveloped in leather and beautifully ornamented-— 

 sometimes twenty on a string, and sometimes the whole Koran itself. These 

 talismen are supposed to defend the bearer from certain terrestrial evils; to 

 possess curative power ; and even to ensure a passport to, and safe reception in 

 Paradise. 



These charms vary in value according to the price paid for them, and this 



